21 December 2025
How do Germans say Practice?
It’s what helps you get better - whether you’re learning a language, doing yoga, or training for a marathon. In German, it’s die Übung. This is your German word of the day, and it’s a go-to noun for anything you do repeatedly to build skill or strength.
The noun Übung means exercise, practice, or drill, and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. You’ll hear it in classrooms, gyms, textbooks, and even emergency training sessions.
It’s a feminine noun, so we say die Übung (still not sure how to tell the gender of a noun? Our video lesson will teach you how to spot the patterns fast).
Pronunciation
Übung is pronounced [ÜÜ-bung].
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The Ü is a long rounded front vowel: say a steady “ee” while rounding your lips
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bung - short u, as in “put,” plus the ng of “sing”
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Stress is on the first syllable: ÜÜ-bung
It sounds light, repetitive - and just a bit motivating.
Example sentences:
Diese Übung hilft beim Sprechen.This exercise helps with speaking.
Ich mache jeden Morgen eine kleine Yoga-Übung.I do a small yoga routine every morning.
Nuance and usage tips
Übung is a very flexible word. It can refer to:
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Learning exercises
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Grammatikübung - grammar exercise
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Matheübung - math problem
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Physical practice
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Turnübung - gymnastic move
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Atemübung - breathing exercise
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Skill-building or drills
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Feuerwehrübung - fire drill
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Notfallübung - emergency training
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Related verbs:
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üben - to practice
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einüben - to rehearse or drill
sich einüben - to become practiced in something
How does this word come up in real conversations?
Übung is everywhere: in school, sport, language learning, music, even mindfulness.
“Die Übung war schwer, aber hilfreich.” - The exercise was hard, but helpful.“Ohne Übung wird das nichts.” - It won’t work without practice.“Übung macht den Meister.” - Practice makes perfect (a very common proverb in German).
“Ich bin aus der Übung.” - I’m out of practice.
Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)
Jan: Ich kann mir die neuen Wörter nicht merken.Lisa: Mach die Übung im Buch - die hilft echt.Jan: Welche Seite?Lisa: Seite 43, ganz oben.
Jan: I can’t remember the new words.Lisa: Do the exercise in the book - it really helps.Jan: Which page?Lisa: Page 43, right at the top.
Grammatical case examples:
Nominative:Die Übung dauert nur zehn Minuten.The exercise only takes ten minutes.
Accusative:Ich habe die Übung noch nicht gemacht.I haven’t done the exercise yet.
Dative:Mit der Übung klappt es besser.It works better with practice.
Genitive:Der Sinn der Übung ist Wiederholung.The point of the exercise is repetition.
Feminine case pattern: die, die, der, der
Word variations and language tidbits
Useful related words:
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Übungsbuch - workbook
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Übungsleiter(in) - coach, trainer
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Übungseinheit - practice unit / session
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Aufwärmübung - warm-up exercise
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Hausübung - homework (especially in Austria)
Cultural note: In Germany and Austria, Übung can also refer to drills in organizations like the military, fire brigade, or police - where practicing for real scenarios is key.
📘 Duden entry🎥 Want to build your vocabulary through repetition, visuals, and smart grammar tips? Our free video course teaches you the top 1000 German nouns in context - perfect for daily practice.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?Do you know what Umgebung means? It’s everything happening around you - even now.What about Unfall? Hopefully not the result of skipping a warm-up exercise.
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